Frustration is mounting among participants of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Green Army in Gauteng as over 300 workers report they have not received their monthly stipends for the past three months.
This troubling news follows a revelation made last week by The Star, highlighting the distress faced by these workers who rely on their payments for daily sustenance.
Among the affected individuals is a female participant who wished to remain anonymous. Speaking to The Star, she expressed her dismay, saying, “For the past three months (September, October, and November), we have not been paid. Now it is November, and there is no transparency regarding this. Some of us have heard that an official has used the money. This is affecting all of us who are under the Panyaza project.” Her story encapsulates the anxiety and uncertainty felt by many within this initiative aimed at providing work opportunities and skills development.
The Gauteng Government hired 6,000 EPWP Green Army workers in May last year to clean the environment and for waste removal, however, many of them are still not paid for three months.
In response to the outcry, Blake Mosley-Letafola, head of the environmental department, issued an internal communication on December 5, assuring participants that efforts are being made to resolve the payment issues.
“This communique serves to provide an update on the payment of stipends for the EPWP Green Army participants. In line with our intention to ensure that EPWP Green Army stipends are processed and effected on the 6 December 2024," Mosley-Letafola stated.
However, the department has faced significant challenges with the payroll process. Mosley-Letafola pointed out that various inaccuracies in data submissions have hindered timely payments. “The department’s appointed Payroll Administrator is experiencing challenges with regards to incorrect details such as incorrect Banking Details, incorrect Identity Numbers, ID Numbers and Names of Unknown Participants submitted with work Attendance Registers/Time Sheets,” he explained. These discrepancies have left approximately 666 participants in limbo regarding their stipends.
The head of the department has urged affected workers to ensure the accuracy of their personal details to facilitate the payroll process, stating, “We plead with all EPWP Green Army Participants with incorrect details to submit their correct information speedily to avoid further delays that are going to affect everyone.” A cutoff time of 14:00 on 6 December 2024 has been given for the submission of correct details, after which only participants with verified information will receive their payments.
To compound the situation, Mosley-Letafola indicated that the department will not begin addressing queries or claims for September and October stipends until 10 December 2024, due to the variance in transactional times among banks. This decision has only heightened the anxiety among participants, many of whom are grappling with mounting bills and financial pressures stemming from the lack of payment.
The Star